Which Instant messenger software do you use?

[masu]

Currently I use ICQ. But I want to change to another sooftware with less advertisements

[brotherS]

Only teh best!

--> http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0

[allen]

I just use Google Talk -- all the people I IM have it, it's incredibly lightweight, and does just what I need it to do.  Archiving my chats to my gmail account is a nice touch, too.

[jgpaiva]

I just use Google Talk

I thought noone used that!

I use msnmessenger for the msn protocol, and miranda for DC's IRC channel

[Innuendo]

I use Miranda. I use it for ICQ, Yahoo!, and two instances of MSN.

It's brilliant, freeware, and has a cubic butt-load of plugins. 

[jgpaiva]

I use Miranda. I use it for ICQ, Yahoo!, and two instances of MSN.

How about irc for DC's irc channel?

[Ampa]

Miranda. Currently using the MSN, Yahoo and IRC networks - and the modern contacts list with the ivew message plugin just to make it look all shiney

[Rover]

I use Verizon Wireless.  It's a voice based message system.  Instead of typing you actually talk to the other person.  It's kind of weird, but I think it'll catch on.  You don't even have to be at your PC to use it. 

[lanux128]

I use Miranda. I use it for ICQ, Yahoo!, and two instances of MSN.

Innuendo: do you know how to use two instances of MSN/Hotmail at the same time?
Fyi, I use Miranda too.

[brotherS]

I use Miranda. I use it for ICQ, Yahoo!, and two instances of MSN.

Innuendo: do you know how to use two instances of MSN/Hotmail at the same time?
Fyi, I use Miranda too.

Should work as it works for several IRC servers: just copy the plugin and give it a different name.
Make sure you read http://bluescreenofdeath.co.uk/Miranda/ (only one page)

[brotherS]

I use Verizon Wireless.  It's a voice based message system.  Instead of typing you actually talk to the other person.  It's kind of weird, but I think it'll catch on.

I don't think so... I'd find it annoying to always listen to voice messages. I prefer unobtrusive text messages, presented by Miranda

[nontroppo]

What a sad mess the IM world is. Many users are locked in (in the sense that cross-network requires multiple logins / hacks)both because of their vendors, as well as their platform...

I have to cross-platform chat (mostly to Mac users), and I'd like the option of voice (I can only dream of video)as well as IM. That decimates the options out there. Most of them have reasonable windows versions, but poor hacked Mac ones. I also really dislike all the proprietary protocols.

For that reason Jabber is the bright hope for IM ( http://www.imfederation.com/ ), none of the ugly proprietariness of MS/Yahoo/AOL. Anyone on a federated server can talk to each other. Both iChat and GoogleTalk are Jabber clients. GMail allows jabber chatting through a web browser which is neat.

One cross-platform free IM that has a very rich feature set (whiteboards, file transfer, voice, IM and lots more)and is wonderfully programmed (and actively developed) on all supported platforms is Bitwise:

http://www.bitwiseim.com/

They use a proprietary network sadly, though they are at least clear that it is to do with security and privacy, rather than the market-domination strategies of the others. The forums seem friendly and helpful.

Though the hope for propietary free IM / voice (unless Google pulls its finger out and releases a cross-platform client) rests with the Jabber based Gizmo:

http://www.gizmoproject.com/learn-more.html

I haven't tried it but it does voice / IM.

Of course, Skype does IM as well as voice (and file transfer)

http://www.skype.com/

For IRC, I use Opera's built-in client - It uses Opera's rendering engine so I can style my IRC window using CSS. It does all I need.

[m_s]

Thanks for those links, nontroppo. 

I have mainly used Miranda and Yahoo chat, but also Windows Messenger, Skype, and Google Talk.  I was really optimistic about Google Talk's chances, but not enough of my friends were able to use it. 

For the last year or so I have stuck with Trillian, simply because I find it easy to setup and operate - flirted a bit with buying the pro version, but decided against it. 

I've been thinking more recently of just using www.meebo.com, since that would allow me to run one fewer program.  Actually, that said, I very rarely fire up my messenger program - or Skype, or Gizmo - since they're just a drag on my system while my friends slowly catch up on using this kind of technology to stay in touch.

[nontroppo]

Update: gizmo can interoperate with GoogleTalk, and will soon allow voice too - allowing open client-agnostic IM+voice chat cross-platform. http://www.gizmoproject.com/google-talk.html

M_S - what is meebo exactly - I didn't want to try it as I was worried it was a 3rd party getting access to my passwords via a web page!

[m_s]

You're right - it might be a scam!  But it looks quite sound to me.  I always am exceptionally edgy about entering my details on any of these aggregating sites - like Protopage or Pageflakes - but I have given in a few times, after investigating the site a bit, and just tried them, and that doesn't seem (yet) to have had any negative consequences...

[brotherS]

I have mainly used Miranda and Yahoo chat, but also Windows Messenger, Skype, and Google Talk.
[...]
For the last year or so I have stuck with Trillian, simply because I find it easy to setup and operate - flirted a bit with buying the pro version, but decided against it. 

Did you read what taichimaster said in http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0 about Trillian and Miranda?

I've been thinking more recently of just using www.meebo.com, since that would allow me to run one fewer program.  Actually, that said, I very rarely fire up my messenger program - or Skype, or Gizmo - since they're just a drag on my system while my friends slowly catch up on using this kind of technology to stay in touch.

Miranda for example doesn't use many resources, it's no drag at all

www.meebo.com could have a bright future, if they develop the idea to its full potential! I doubt that I would replace my Miranda (it's just TOO damn good and customizable! and there's no IRC in meebo!), but it's the perfect solution for when you are using a different/public PC and can't run Miranda from your USB stick there.

[brotherS]

www.meebo.com is no scam:

Found on http://www.techcrunch.com/2005/12/16/meebo-confirms-sequoia-funding/ :

Meebo confirmed the rumor that they have received funding from Sequoia Capital on their blog.

Found on http://blog.meebo.com/?p=78 :

December 18th, 2005 at 11:41 am
[…] For a while, the word on the street has been that Meebo, barely 13 weeks old has been out raising some cash. But did they? Apparently yes! The amount of money they have raised is $3.5 million, at about $9 million pre-money valuation from Sequoia Capital, and Roelof Botha has joined the company’s board. The company has been growing pretty rapidly, about 250,000 logins and 7 million messages as of yesterday, and the Meebo Musketeers have built a good platform. […]

Respect!

[vegas]

For the last year or so I have stuck with Trillian, simply because I find it easy to setup and operate - flirted a bit with buying the pro version, but decided against it. 

Very wise decision